The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-29
DRAINAGE COMMITTEE REPORT.
THE PALATKA CHARTER BILL CERTIFIED
TO THE SENATE.
ABiH TO Establish Pasco county-Gen- J. J. Finley
Confirmed Judge Of the Fifth circuit- Nam
Iton piss,oa at the Capital.


presented an elaborate report on behalf
lands reclaimed by the Okeechobee
Drainage Company, near Kissimmee, OF
which the following is the substance:
THE COMMITTEES REPor.
The committee first visited the re-
claimed lands on Lake East TohOpekada,
finding that lake eight feet and two
inches below its original level, with a
handsome beach of firm, white sand
about 800 feet wide, where formerly
there was seven or eight feet of water,
and making a magnificent drive of sew
enteen miles. The surrounding marshes
and cypress swamps are drained, ready
for the plOw. On this lake there are the
thriving settlement of NarcOOsee.
Runnymeede and ST. Cloud, with
other farms, notably that of
the Lupfer Brothers. All of the lands
are in the highest state of cultivation,
with handsome crops of sugar cane,
corn, potatoes and various vegetables,
all vigorous and thrifty. These lands are
exceed ngly fertile, and though but re-
Gently freed from two to four feet of
standing water, are now dry and fit for
all crops of a temperate or sub-tropical
climate. The muck soil is from eighteen
inches to nine feet deep at st. Cloud.
The committee saw growing 40 acres of
sugar cane, 1l5 acres of rice and 100
acres of corn-all exceedingly vigorous
and forward-on lands formerly covered
with water permanently and impossible
for man or beast. The drainage
bitches here are numerous, from three
to five feet deep and dry to the
bottom, making most perfect
system of drainage. These lands, for
merly valuless, are now worth hundreds
of dollars per acre. Vegetables of all
Kinds grow remarkable well thereon,
cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, onions
and Strawberries, being largely cult
waited for shipment. There also were
1000 acres transformed into a sugar
plantation. The intention being to have
$50 acres in cane alone. Machinery to
handle the produce of $4,000 acres has
bNNh BuiSieesSNs uiiu NohuaSeo NAhSc w
purchase all the cane, delivered at the
mill from other plantations at renumer-
ative prices.
The committee visited the reclaimed
lands of Lakes Tohopekaliga, Cypress
and Hatchinaha, and the model farms of
the celebrated Southport farms, all of
which are ON lands formerly permanently
inundated, and now in a high state of
cultivation and improvement; the peach
orchard of A. s. Kinsman being particu-
Iarly notable as growing upon what was
a bog, and which is now bearing its Sec
ond crop, though but three years old,
according to records kept by Lieut..
Smith-Dorien. Lake Tohopekaliga is
now two feet and four inches below its
level of May, 1886, and the total lower
ing of the lake has been seven feet and
four inches.
The committee also submits a tab
ulated statement of the rainfall for
fifteen years past, showing that the av-
erage for that period was 56 and 156-1OOO
inches; and the average rainfall for the
six years covering the operations of the
drainage company, 56 and 6s1OOO inches,
or 515-10O0 inches greater average than
for the whole period of fifteen years.
The greatest rainfall during the fifteen
years was in 1885, being So 91-10OO
inches, thus correcting the current re-
port that drought or dry weather had
,aIl taI - ~
company. The committee state that
the extreme fertility and immense
value of the reclaimed lands
can scarcely be estimated, and
their susceptibility for profitable
cultivation has been practically demon
strated by the crops now on them and
the statements of reliable and well in
formed residents that sixty-five tons of
cane, seventy bushels of corn, and sew
enty-three bushels of rice. have been
produced per acre on these lands. One
grower of early vegetables raised sixty
acres of cabbages last year. All these
crops are made entirely without fertili-
zers. The report quotes lengthy re-
port made by Col. T. A. Bringier, of
Louisiana, and concludes as follows:
Thousands of acres are now awaiting
the husbandman, while thousands are
now being put in cane. rice and other
crops. The fertility of the drained lands
is unsurpassed and must be seen to be
fully appreciated. The reclaimed lands
are particularly adapted to grazing
and stock raising. Your committee hav-
ing noted many herds of fine cattle feed
ing upon lands now dry formerly under
water, the heritage being from two to
three feet high and of the most nutri-
tious character. Fields of s'wild millet,
a natural growth unknow before the re-
clamation, now covers vast tracks,
making fine forage and the best of hay,
cutting from four to six tons per acre OF
natural grass. Your committee having
only to report on the susceptibility
of the drained lands to cultivation
finds that they are susceptible in the
highest degrees to profitable cultivation
particularly for rice and sugar cane
The rice crop, especially being made al
little expense, requiring only the break
ing of the land, sowing the seed and
narrowing. No cultivation being re
quired while the lands are left in per
feet condition for sugar cane, destinet
doubtless to the be greatest and most re
munerative industry of the State in the
near future. The immense value of the
reclaimed lands to the State, and tn.
revenue to be derived from their cultiva
ton, make of the utmost importance t